The 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia inshore series concluded in Saint-Tropez on Tuesday, setting the stage for the regatta's headline offshore race to Genoa. A fleet of 145 boats completed the final day of coastal racing in light north-easterly winds on the Côte d'Azur.
The action now shifts to the 241-nautical-mile offshore challenge via the Giraglia Rock, which starts on Wednesday.
The Maxi fleet completed its final inshore race with Sir Peter Ogden's Jethou taking victory in IRC 0 Maxi A on corrected time. George Sakellaris' Proteus was second, while Alessandro Del Bono's Capricorno completed the podium. Despite Jethou's race win, Karel Komarek's Wallycento V secured the overall IRC 0 Maxi A inshore title after five races.
Maxi Charge — Jethou closed the inshore series with victory in the final Maxi race before the fleet switched focus to the offshore challenge to Genoa. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
In IRC 0 Maxi B, Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II completed a clean sweep, winning all five races of the series. Paul Wilcox, tactics and helm coach aboard Wallycento V, said improved teamwork had proved decisive. "We made a plan, executed the plan, and it turned out to be the right thing to do," said Wilcox.
Elsewhere, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Django WR claimed the IRC 1 inshore series title after a consistent week of racing.
Winning Form — Django WR claimed overall IRC 1 honours as the Loro Piana Giraglia fleet prepared for the offshore challenge to Genoa. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
Luca Locatelli's Thetis won ORC 1, while Willem Ellemeet's Flying Dolphin secured IRC 2 honours.
Marcello De Gaspari's Fremito D'Arja took the ORC 2 title after a close battle with fellow J/109 Chestress. The Ville de Saint-Tropez Trophy was awarded to Django WR as winner of IRC 1, the largest class in the regatta.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez president Pierre Roinson highlighted the race's enduring appeal. "The Giraglia has a long story," he said. "At the start, there were maybe 20 or 25 boats, and now we have 145 boats, so the race is very much alive."
Attention now turns to Wednesday's offshore start from Saint-Tropez. The fleet will leave the Gulf of Saint-Tropez before heading towards Corsica and the Giraglia Rock, then north to the finish in Genoa.
